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Rugby

18th Mar 2017

France win is absolutely brilliant news for Ireland’s 2019 World Cup hopes

Good start to the evening

Patrick McCarry

Let’s hope this is a good sign for Ireland as they seek to end their championship campaign on a high.

It took over 100 minutes but France got the job done over Wales in Paris.

France got off to a rocking start, in Paris, when Camille Lopez teed up Remi Lamerat for a try with a superb, weighted chip over the Welsh defence.

Lopez found his place-kicking range after an early penalty miss while Wales were thankful for the steady kicking of fullback Leigh Halfpenny.

France trailed 18-13 until a bonkers finish saw Les Bleus snatch it 20-18 at the death.

The result means Ireland are now top seeds for the 2019 World Cup draw and can not be overtaken in 4th place of the rankings.

The draw for the 2019 competition will take place in May and, later this year, host cities and stadiums teams will be playing in during the World Cup will be confirmed. If forward planning is your bag, you’ve got to love this.

Earlier today, Scotland ended their Six Nations with a 29-0 romp over Conor O’Shea’s Italy.

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